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What's up S|W!
My name is Adrien, been a long time lurker of S|W and decided it was time to share with you my story...
*disclaimer* most of my photos are from an iPhone, no real camera... Yet..
Ever since I was little I wanted an E39. Something about the muscular lines and presence they gave off left me drooling all over google images and BMW forums in my early teens...
Fast forward to about 5 months ago, doing my daily stroll on craigslist I come across something I've always wanted but never in my life thought I would obtain. A 2002 E39 M5 with 88k miles on the clock. Mechanically it needed a clutch. Cosmetically it needed work... oxidized headlights, paint was a wreck, surface rust appearing on the rear arches, very filthy and just all around neglected.
The once german super sedan now sat decaying as time went on, and I knew I had to pull the trigger.. Instantly hitting up the seller and met with him the next day. Within a few hours of overlooking the car, driving and haggling on price... I went home owning a car I've always wanted.
Pictures from the ad:
The neglected engine bay that houses the monster S62
Basic pictures right after I took ownership:
Dirty, tired looking exterior
Ruined ass front wheel from not being taken care of... All the powder coat is chipped/flaked off
Yeah yeah plasti dip is high school... Whatever temporarily fixed the wheels with a quick coat so I wasn't to be accused as the one who neglected it... looks kinda sinister tho if you ask me
First things that needed addressing was a good wash and wax. Doing such a small thing like that brought this thing back pretty quick. My buddy happened to be there and snapped a few shots...
Happy squeaky clean S62
The next thing that needed addressed was the original clutch that was on its last leg, any time you wanted to give it any throttle it slipped. So off I went to my buddies shop, Indy DIY garage and we threw it up on a lift and I started the tear down process.... This is my first E39 as well as ///M car so it was safe to say I was a little intimidated by all the engineering the Germans put into these cars, but it ended up being very forgiving and quite an easy job.
Coming out....
Old trashed clutch
Going back in..
Works good now
Next up on the list was to try and revive the oxidized headlights... I was on the fence to restore or buy new ones... Glad I tackled the job myself and saved some money.
Pulled them out...
Sanded the ever living hell out of them... No turning back now..
And polished/buffed out
Came out looking brand new..
Finally was able to really dissect the car and give it a good detail, the interior speaks for itself
Got the bay clean and took the lid off the S62... If this doesn't give you a chub you've got issues
NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF!!!! After having the car all sorted out mechanically and having it at least presentable, I started looking for wheels. I first started off looking for style 5's but wanted something more simple. I know most of you are against rep wheels but in all honesty I could give a damn if they are real or not.... I just want something that looks good, and if I destroy one on a curb or pothole (which will happen in indiana/Illinois area I live in) who gives a fuh, just buy another! Anyway pulled the trigger on my buddy Narvin's set up off his E39. Super clean and got a great deal on them (thanks Narvin).. Enough with the jabbering... On to pics
Threw on a fat ass adapter and bolted them up
Sorry for bad lighting, only have time to turn wrenches at night. Bought some Motorsport hardware neochrome lug nuts to tie it together. They are very nice quality pieces.
Once the coils come in, the lows will tuck these nicely with 3-4 degrees of camber
Then I noticed how shitty the stock rotors looked behind the new wheels so I took a little visit over to Adams rotors and waited paitiently for 3 weeks to get the heavy packages in the mail. Here's what they contained...
They look to be of extremely high quality, just waiting on the warm weather to put them on...
As for now, that is where the story ends... Waiting on coil overs and moving to California in about a month. Until we meet again S|W.....
RACE KOR
My name is Adrien, been a long time lurker of S|W and decided it was time to share with you my story...
*disclaimer* most of my photos are from an iPhone, no real camera... Yet..
Ever since I was little I wanted an E39. Something about the muscular lines and presence they gave off left me drooling all over google images and BMW forums in my early teens...
Fast forward to about 5 months ago, doing my daily stroll on craigslist I come across something I've always wanted but never in my life thought I would obtain. A 2002 E39 M5 with 88k miles on the clock. Mechanically it needed a clutch. Cosmetically it needed work... oxidized headlights, paint was a wreck, surface rust appearing on the rear arches, very filthy and just all around neglected.
The once german super sedan now sat decaying as time went on, and I knew I had to pull the trigger.. Instantly hitting up the seller and met with him the next day. Within a few hours of overlooking the car, driving and haggling on price... I went home owning a car I've always wanted.
Pictures from the ad:
The neglected engine bay that houses the monster S62
Basic pictures right after I took ownership:
Dirty, tired looking exterior
Ruined ass front wheel from not being taken care of... All the powder coat is chipped/flaked off
Yeah yeah plasti dip is high school... Whatever temporarily fixed the wheels with a quick coat so I wasn't to be accused as the one who neglected it... looks kinda sinister tho if you ask me
First things that needed addressing was a good wash and wax. Doing such a small thing like that brought this thing back pretty quick. My buddy happened to be there and snapped a few shots...
Happy squeaky clean S62
The next thing that needed addressed was the original clutch that was on its last leg, any time you wanted to give it any throttle it slipped. So off I went to my buddies shop, Indy DIY garage and we threw it up on a lift and I started the tear down process.... This is my first E39 as well as ///M car so it was safe to say I was a little intimidated by all the engineering the Germans put into these cars, but it ended up being very forgiving and quite an easy job.
Coming out....
Old trashed clutch
Going back in..
Works good now
Next up on the list was to try and revive the oxidized headlights... I was on the fence to restore or buy new ones... Glad I tackled the job myself and saved some money.
Pulled them out...
Sanded the ever living hell out of them... No turning back now..
And polished/buffed out
Came out looking brand new..
Finally was able to really dissect the car and give it a good detail, the interior speaks for itself
Got the bay clean and took the lid off the S62... If this doesn't give you a chub you've got issues
NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF!!!! After having the car all sorted out mechanically and having it at least presentable, I started looking for wheels. I first started off looking for style 5's but wanted something more simple. I know most of you are against rep wheels but in all honesty I could give a damn if they are real or not.... I just want something that looks good, and if I destroy one on a curb or pothole (which will happen in indiana/Illinois area I live in) who gives a fuh, just buy another! Anyway pulled the trigger on my buddy Narvin's set up off his E39. Super clean and got a great deal on them (thanks Narvin).. Enough with the jabbering... On to pics
Threw on a fat ass adapter and bolted them up
Sorry for bad lighting, only have time to turn wrenches at night. Bought some Motorsport hardware neochrome lug nuts to tie it together. They are very nice quality pieces.
Once the coils come in, the lows will tuck these nicely with 3-4 degrees of camber
Then I noticed how shitty the stock rotors looked behind the new wheels so I took a little visit over to Adams rotors and waited paitiently for 3 weeks to get the heavy packages in the mail. Here's what they contained...
They look to be of extremely high quality, just waiting on the warm weather to put them on...
As for now, that is where the story ends... Waiting on coil overs and moving to California in about a month. Until we meet again S|W.....
RACE KOR
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